Monthly Archives: April 2012

Hope your gardens and flowerbeds are enjoying all this rain! It’s perfect weather for curling up with a cup of organic coffee and a good book, listening to the pitter patter of April showers. And I’m certainly looking forward to this week’s basket from Milk and Honey Organics as the April showers bring in the May flowers this coming week!

Bon Appetit!

My mother in law introduced me to Teecinno a couple of years ago. It’s an acid-free, caffeine-free beverage that you prepare like coffee. Even though my personal preference is still coffee, if you want a similar flavor in the evening, or when you’re not feeling well or maybe pregnant, this is a valid alternative.

I won a package of the Southern Pecan Teeccino from Simply Life Blog (one of those blogs I follow almost daily–thank you very much for the sample!), and it came with some coupons as well. If I think of it as a nutritional beverage, I’m better off. For some reason when I think of it as coffee, my expectations are too high, and I end up disappointed. The Southern Pecan and French Roast were not my favorite, probably because they’re my two favorite coffee varieties, but they’re okay. I used one of my coupons on a pack of the Maya Chai and did not care for it at all (just being honest). However, the Vanilla Nut Teeccino I actually enjoy quite a bit (that’s the one my mother in law usually has around).

I love Ina Garten! And if you don’t already, you will after this lunch spread! It reminds me of our Irish Pub Party, in a way. And it’s the perfect lunch for a Saturday picnic…or anytime, for that matter.

Are you a Christian? Did you know that “Christian” means “little Christ”? So often, it’s easy to put on a happy face and go to church and act like everything’s perfect, but we all have problems. Even after salvation, we need a Savior–a daily leader in this battle against sin! That leader–that Savior–is Jesus! It can be no other. Church is wonderful, and given to us by God. The Bible is His Word. But if you call yourself a Christian, remember who you’re living for.

A recent poem “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” was created by Jeff Bethke, uploaded to YouTube, and went viral! He presented an honest testimony of his conversion and how he felt about much of what is called “Christianity” or “religion”–the hypocritical, pious, superficial, and social meanings of those words–the ones that have departed from Christ and the Bible–not all religion, and certainly not all Christians.

The video created quite the controversy, and even got an article posted by Huffington Post. Kevin DeYoung, Pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan, and part of The Gospel Coalition, wrote an excellent article called “Does Jesus Hate Religion? Kinda, Sorta, Not Really,” which breaks apart the poem line by line and compares it to Scripture. It’s very well written, and even Bethke wrote, “I just wanted to say I really appreciate your article man. It hit me hard. I’ll even be honest and say I agree 100%.” But DeYoung didn’t stop there. He contacted Bethke and they exchanged several emails and had several phone conversations, parts of which are recorded in DeYoung’s follow-up blog post.

This 10 minute video clip is worth watching. It starts with the above trailer and continues with an interview with Kirk Cameron (“Monumental” filmmaker) and Marshall Foster (President, World History Institute) by Glenn Beck.

Freedom starts with faith in Christ, serving one another, teaching our children truth at home, and going out and doing right over the long haul.

If you’re in the Greenville, SC, area, the movie Monumental, tonight’s the last night to catch it at the Hollywood 20 Theatre on Woodruff Road. We went Tuesday night and it was a very well done documentary. I loved it! For more information, and to see if it will be playing in a theater near you, check out www.monumentalmovie.com.

Further background of the history behind the documentary can be found here.

He is risen indeed!

BORN AGAIN TO A LIVING HOPE!

I Peter 1:3-9 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

Acts 2:36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

“Forever etched upon my mind is the look of Him who died–The Lamb I crucified, and now my life will sing the praise of pure atoning grace” (words by John Newton, adaptation and music by Bob Kauflin, Sovereign Grace.)